Get Involved

For over 20 years, the Guatemala Health Initiative (GHI) has partnered with communities in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, learners and volunteers work alongside locals to improve health, promote sustainable projects, and share knowledge.

Learning about home based weaving
Guided by mutual respect and collaboration, we focus on developing communities through capacity-building and providing essential health services. Housed in Penn's Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, GHI has a longstanding partnership with Hospitalito Atitlan. Whether you're interested in volunteering, donating, or participating in an educational trip, there are many ways to make a meaningful impact. Here's how you can Get Involved:
 

For students at any stage in their life. Duration: 1-2 weeks. (Spanish language skills not required)

Offered several times a year, GHI's educational experiences provide a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Tz'utujil Mayan culture while contributing to meaningful community health initiatives. This program is open to undergraduates, graduate students, adults, and high school students looking to expand their cultural and language skills and is hosted by Penn faculty in collaboration with Hospitalito Atitlan. You can choose to focus on language learning, volunteer service, or community health research and praxis.

  • What’s Included: Ground transportation, housing, food, and activities

  • Eligibility:  No prior Spanish language skills required, though it's an option

  • CME/CE credit: Health professionals can receive Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits

  • Join Us:

For current undergraduate and graduate students. Duration: 6-12+ weeks (Spanish proficiency expected)

Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to apply for internships in community medicine or medical anthropology. Work closely with Penn's local partners, such as Asociación K’aslimaal or a Guatemalan University, to design and carry out impactful health projects. This immersive experience will challenge you to apply your knowledge in a global health setting and may lead to publication opportunities.

  • What's included: Pre-trip training, in-country orientation with Penn faculty, project design mentoring and data collection. Post travel, Penn faculty work with interns to analyze and report their data. For several students this has led to peer-reviewed publications

  • Eligibility: University students, research-focused, Spanish proficiency expected. On an exceptional basis, current high school juniors and seniors may apply

  • To Apply:

For current clinical students and residents. Duration: 4 weeks (Spanish required)

Current clinical students and residents join our clinical rotations at Hospitalito Atitlán, where you will gain invaluable hands-on experience in Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, or Obstetrics. This program provides an incredible learning opportunity in a resource-limited setting.

  • What's included: Hospitalito Atitlan clinicians provide supervised training experiences in collaboration with Penn faculty

  • Eligibility: Medical and nursing students,  medical residents, and fellows. Clinical rotations require approval by your program director, coordination with your elective curriculum, and advanced planning

  • To Apply: Medical Students and Residents/Fellows: Contact your program director and check out opportunities with the Center for Global Health then get in touch with Dr. Kent Bream  or Dr. Saad Siddiqui

For post-graduate career development, those who have completed residency or a graduate degree. Duration: 1-2 years (Spanish required)

For those looking for a deeper commitment, GHI offers fellowships focused on global health, community health engagement, and comprehensive care. As a fellow, you’ll have the chance to live and work in Guatemala for up to 2 years, contributing to critical health initiatives while gaining invaluable international experience. GHI offers two fellowship opportunities:

JUNAM (1 year):  (paid position) JUNAM is a Maya Tz’utujil word for coming together. It also a contraction of “Juntos Estamos”, or “we are together”. JUNAM works to build connections between non-profit organizations in Maya Tz’utujil communities and the world. In collaboration with Asociacion Kaslimaal, Adisa, and Pueblo a Pueblo, Penn’s GHI places highly qualified adults (18+) in 1 year Global Community Health and Engagement positions with the partner organizations. The Penn GHI team serves as a referral provider and collaborator to the Guatemalan organizations that provide the position and supervise the fellow. Several fellows at the partner organizations have gone on to medical or other graduate school after spending a year in Atitlan. This is a significant commitment of time and is a transformative life experience. It is recommended that those who decide to do a JUNAM year participate in a short or medium term experience first.  

  • What's included: JUNAM fellows received placement referral to partner organizations and ongoing mentorship from GHI faculty during their JUNAM year

  • Eligibility: Graduates of any college or university. Spanish language skills required

  • To Apply: Contact  Dr. Kent Bream  or Dr. Saad Siddiqui

Global Health Certificate (1 year): (tuition based; employer tuition benefit accepted for eligible fellows) The Global Health Fellowship certificate is designed for professionals or holders of a graduate degree who are seeking a certificate in global health. This 1 year hybrid fellowship includes core training in global health by GHI faculty and hands-on training experiences in community health. Fellows spend at least 6 months in Santiago for applied learning and six months in Philadelphia (can be remote) in 1-6 month increments. Fellows are expected to carry out an independent Global Health Project. Fellows will to identify their project area of research, service, or leadership in consultation with the GHI faculty. 

 

  • What's included: Live online workshops, mentoring from GHI faculty, supervision by community partner organization

  • Eligibility: Individuals must have at least a Masters degree. Spanish language skills required.

  • To Apply: Contact Dr. Kent Bream  or Dr. Saad Siddiqui

Community Health Fellowship for ACTION (26 months): (Tuition based, employer tuition benefit accepted for eligible fellows) This is a two-year track for the fellow who is interested in completing an MPH. The fellow will provide clinical care/service while taking MPH classes, alternating semesters between Philadelphia and the Hospitalito Atitlan. Fellows spend a total of 1 year in Santiago Atitlan, in 2-6 month increments providing  services to Asociación K’aslimaal or other JUNAM partner organization. Fellows complete a research or public health capstone project that often results in publication. Past partners have sometimes combined this fellowship with a Certificate in Tropical Medicine.

  • What's included: Live online didactics, MPH courses, mentoring from GHI faculty, supervision by community partner organization

  • Eligibility: ACTION Fellows must have completed graduate training and are seeking additional graduate level professional training

  • To Apply:  Contact Dr. Kent Bream  or Dr. Saad Siddiqui to discuss your specific interests

For currently licensed health professionals. Duration: Short(3 days) to Long Term (3 months and up) (Spanish preferred)

We’re seeking currently licensed clinicians to volunteer in rural clinics, specialty clinics, or during jornadas (medical brigades) in the Western Highlands. Your expertise will directly benefit underserved communities and help bridge gaps in healthcare access. Whether you’re part of a brigade or an individual volunteer, your work will have a profound, life-changing impact on the people of Guatemala.

  • What's included: GHI supports the Hospitalito Atitlán in credentialing volunteers and facilitates ongoing peer-to-peer support

  • Eligibility: Current and active clinical license. Spanish language skills preferred

  • To Apply:  Contact Dr. Kent Bream  to discuss your specific interests

Open to currently licensed providers, GHI supports the Asociacion K'aslimaal and the Hospitalito Atitlan in providing clinical volunteers for the rural community clinics as well as specialized care in the hospital setting. While GHI focuses on education and research, volunteers affiliated with GHI have provided life changing and life saving care to patients in Guatemala. From surgical brigades, to specialty clinics, to rural clinics providing basic care, clinical volunteers can help Guatemalan physicians and nurses diagnose, treat, and care for people in need. Brigades and individual clinical volunteering is arranged through the Hospitalito Atitlan. 

  • Jornadas or medical brigades are team based visits which provide comprehensive services in the hospital and outpatient setting. A whole office, team of colleagues, hospital, or social group will volunteer with physicians, nurses, technicians, and non-clinical operational volunteers. A jornada in Guatemala is a call to the broader community to come and receive specialized service at the hospital for a limited period of time. These are usually one week trips and the team provides Spanish language speakers or translators.
  • Specialty Clinics are provided by individual clinical volunteers for short periods of time. When a jornada is not feasible, the Hospitalito welcomes you onto the clinical team. Your services can be used in the inpatient, outpatient, or rural clinic setting. You can help alleviate the call schedule, provide specialized care to our outpatients, or consult within the hospital on medical or surgical cases. From Family Medicine to Rheumatology, from Surgery to Radiology, the communities of Guatemala can benefit from your volunteering. Even better, plan to come once or twice a year so that you can develop a continuity practice for patients experiencing a chronic condition needing specialty care. Finally, while you are in Santiago, provide a teaching opportunity for our clinicians to support improved care when you are not available multiplying your impact!
  • Rural clinics are provided through the Asociacion K'aslimaal to the Tz'utujil and other Maya communities around the lake. Volunteers are essential for these programs supporting maternal health, childhood nutrition, diabetes and hypertension, and general medical care in remote, very low resource areas, around Santiago. Clinicians will often need to 'make due' with limited diagnostic and treatment choices in this environment. Despite resources being low, the impact can be very high.  
 
Make a Difference—Donate Today—If you can’t volunteer, donations are another vital way to support our educational and research efforts. Your contributions help fund education, and community-based projects that directly improve lives. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a tangible difference. We celebrate the number of people who are engaged with GHI so please contribute today.

Ready to Get Involved?

There are many ways to join us in our mission to improve health and empower communities in Guatemala. Whether you choose to volunteer, donate, or take part in an educational experience, your involvement will directly contribute to the well-being of the communities we serve.

Get In Touch with Dr. Kent Bream or Dr. Saad Siddiqui today to learn more and start your journey with the Guatemala Health Initiative.